Solutions for Clutch Linkage Problems

Clutch Linkage Problems?

For those of us who own muscle cars a lot of the fun of ownership is driving the classic. If you are like me you have become use to the smooth action of a hydraulic clutch on a modern car. For example my 2001 Camaro, which has an easy, smooth feel adds to the enjoyment of running through the gears. I can’t say that about our 1978 C3 Corvette, at least when we first owned it. In fact it was a real nightmare. The clutch linkage was creaky; it felt like metal on metal (which it was) and overall not very re-assuring to drive. I always wondered when the linkage would bind or just give up in traffic or at the worse possible moment. That was until we installed one of our Rod Links TM clutch linkages. Let’s look at a typical non-hydraulic clutch linkage to see why such a simple upgrade can make so much difference.

It’s all about friction. If you look at a typical linkage set you notice right away that there are a number of improvements you could make. Usually there is a rod from the clutch pedal that connects to a “Z” bar or some other intermediate link that translates the up and down of the clutch pedal to the back and forth movement of the clutch throw-out arm, which in turn engages and disengages the clutch. There is another link from the “Z” bar to the actual clutch throw out arm. This intermediate link and the pedal & throw out link are usually steel; hardened steel with no bearing to smooth the action. Why? It’s all about cost. The factory engineers made a conscious decision that your left leg was OK with metal to metal contact in the clutch linkage. In those days this might have been acceptable but now that we know there are better methods. Why settle for a creaky, metal to metal joint that everyone forgets to lubricate? Over time even the hardened steel wears down as road grit and grime act as an abrasive. One day you blissfully roll up to the traffic light push the clutch pedal in as you have done countless times and “pop”, the pedal slams to the floor as the car stalls. No more fun that day.

With the Rod Links TM clutch linkage we engineered it so that there are spherical rod ends at every major friction joint. No more metal to metal, instead a chrome spherical bearing which runs against a Teflon impregnated bearing race that accomplishes several things.

• Much lower friction than possible even when the factory linkage was new and properly lubricated.
• The bearing race in the rod end is self cleaning, which means the grime and road dirt under the car do not make it into the moving parts.
• No lubrication required, ever.

If it sound like a good deal it is. For a nominal price and an hour or so you can radically improve the feel of that old linkage to a level that is way beyond the clunky old factory stuff. It will make a noticeable improvement and give you the peace of mind that the linkage will be doing its job indefinitely and not only that, your left leg will thank you!